Search Climate Insights Directory

The Clean Air NDC Scorecard 2023 evaluates how 170 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) integrate air quality and health considerations. The analysis reveals a significant gap in recognition of the links between climate action and air quality, particularly among high-income countries and major emitters, while low- and middle-income countries generally demonstrate higher levels of integration.

This policy paper maps the landscape of standards and initiatives related to plastic pollution to support international cooperation. It categorizes instruments into government regulations, voluntary multistakeholder standards, and non-governmental initiatives. The paper highlights the role of these standards in the ongoing negotiations for a global plastics treaty (INC) and the WTO Dialogue on Plastics Pollution (DPP), emphasizing the need for inclusiveness for developing countries and the identification of 'standards gaps' across the plastics life cycle.

This IISD policy brief examines design elements of border carbon adjustments (BCAs) that should be the focus of international cooperation to reduce political tension and administrative burdens for traders, particularly in developing countries.

A research paper by the NewClimate Institute analyzing the German transport sector's emissions projections as of August 2023, concluding that current policies align with a global warming path of approximately 3°C.

This research paper analyzes the dynamics of Zimbabwe's August 23, 2023, general elections, focusing on the contest between incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa (ZANU-PF) and challenger Nelson Chamisa (CCC). The author examines the electoral system, campaign strategies, and the systemic barriers facing the opposition, while highlighting the election's significance for Zimbabwe's international re-engagement and its role in the global critical minerals market.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the design choices and trade-offs associated with Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs). It describes BCAs as measures intended to prevent 'carbon leakage' by ensuring imported goods face carbon costs equivalent to domestic production, thereby supporting the integrity of domestic carbon pricing. The document outlines key decision points for policy-makers, including the scope of trade flows, geographic exemptions, emission categories (Scopes 1, 2, and 3), calculation methods for embedded emissions, and the allocation of generated revenues.

This research paper examines the evolving geopolitics of mineral supply chains, specifically how industrialised states are seeking to reduce dependencies on certain countries following the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It focuses on the potential for African economies to benefit from this restructuring as the global transition to renewable energy increases the demand for critical minerals.

This guide by Zero Carbon Analytics explains the role of heat pumps in decarbonising buildings and industry, detailing their technical operation, economic viability, and the policy barriers to their global adoption.

The July 2023 report 'Pedal to the Metal' by Global Energy Monitor assesses the global iron and steel plant fleet, highlighting a critical gap between current capacity developments and the decarbonization targets required for net-zero emissions by 2050. While there is a growing shift toward Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology, the continued expansion of coal-based Blast Furnace-Basic Oxygen Furnace (BF-BOF) capacity, particularly in Asia, threatens to lock in high emissions and create significant stranded asset risks.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that the Canadian oil and gas sector is ill-prepared for an inevitable decline in global demand. It suggests that the federal government must take a proactive role in managing this phase-down to protect workers and communities and diversify the economy, rather than continuing with business-as-usual production expansion.

This policy brief by RMI argues that a circular battery economy—focused on repurposing and recycling electric vehicle (EV) batteries—is essential to mitigate human rights abuses, environmental degradation, and supply chain vulnerabilities. The document outlines five critical policy areas: supply chain traceability, material transport and storage, manufacturing and production, recycling, and reuse, emphasizing that cohesive national and international policies are required to make these processes economically viable and scalable.

This joint submission by IISD, CIEL, and ClientEarth to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment argues that Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms act as a major obstacle to climate and environmental action. The document details how ISDS is used by investors to challenge environmental regulations, creates a 'regulatory chill' that disincentivizes states from enacting green policies, and often ignores human rights and environmental obligations in favor of investment protections.

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the health cooperation between Germany and African states, arguing that current partnerships are rooted in colonial legacies and lack genuine reciprocity. The author contends that recent shifts toward 'securitization' of health—prioritizing global health security and economic interests—often override the needs of marginalized populations and the goal of strengthening local health systems.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) issued a statement regarding the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine, highlighting the resulting humanitarian and environmental crises and the broader impacts of Russia's invasion on sustainable development.

This report analyzes the human and economic development prospects of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) up to 2050. It contrasts a 'Current Path' scenario, characterized by persistent poverty, poor governance, and infrastructure deficits, with a 'comprehensive scenario' involving targeted interventions in governance, infrastructure, human capital, agriculture, and economic diversification.

Minutes from the Green Economy Coalition (GEC) Steering Group meeting on May 31, 2023, detailing the strategic framework for the 2023-2027 phase. The discussion focuses on two primary programmes: 'Renegotiating Social Contracts' to build societal support for green transformation, and 'Promoting a Shared Global Green Deal' to create a multilateral economic architecture that prevents trade wars between major powers and supports developing nations.

This research paper examines the historical and contemporary health cooperation between Germany and African nations, arguing that these relations remain unequal and lack reciprocity. The author contends that while Germany promotes multilateralism and health security, its actions often prioritize economic interests and security over the public health needs and autonomy of African partners, calling for a decolonial shift toward health and climate justice.

This briefing by RMI argues that transparency in reporting the types of scrap used in metal production—specifically distinguishing between pre-consumer and post-consumer scrap—is essential for achieving 1.5°C climate-aligned decarbonization goals in the steel and aluminum sectors.

A statement by 181 organizations and supporters from 27 countries urging G7 nations to cease the promotion and financing of fossil fuel-based technologies in developing countries, specifically criticizing Japan's Green Transformation (GX) policy and the continued public financing of fossil fuels despite previous commitments.

This briefing analyzes the impact of Germany's new feminist foreign policy on its relations with Africa, specifically examining the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development's (BMZ) 2023 Africa Strategy. While the author acknowledges the potential for a positive realignment based on respect and reciprocity, the document argues that the current approach is inconsistent, primarily limiting feminist principles to development cooperation rather than integrating them across all foreign policy domains such as security, trade, and climate policy.